Jobie's Bite-Sized Music Reviews #41: Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind - Coheed & Cambria
- arrangednoisefan
- Jun 24, 2022
- 2 min read
Recommended
Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind is a 2022 album by progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is their tenth studio album, released four years after their previous album, which is the longest gap between Coheed and Cambria albums since the gap between No World for Tomorrow and Year of the Black Rainbow (a three year gap). The album's sound has roughly the same heaviness as 2016's The Color Before the Sun. Coheed and Cambria maintain their mixing of styles (as is typical in the progressive rock genre), blending rock elements with subtle electronic elements, and even, as seen on the track “Our Love”, a piano. Their sound on this album does feel slightly new, but at the same time reminds me of the old Coheed and Cambria. The latter is especially true with the track “Window of the Waking Mind”, which sounds the most like older Coheed and Cambria. Vocally, Sanchez's signature vocals return on this album. However, the album makes use, at various points, of vocal effects, which are mostly utilized to muffle Sanchez's vocals. These have been used very lightly in previous Coheed and Cambria albums, but are utilized more often on this album. This doesn't really add or subtract anything from the album, but I felt like it was worth noting. Lyrically, the album has the same great lyricism that their previous albums exhibit. I wish I could dissect their meaning more, but I sadly do not own the Deluxe Edition of this album that comes with the 96-page novel that explains everything. I am also reviewing this album on the first day of its release, so it's unlikely that anyone has read the novel and put the meaning to the lyrics online. Like other Coheed and Cambria albums, though, you don't need to understand the lyrics to appreciate how well-written they are. My favorites tracks from Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind are “Shoulders”, “The Liars Club”, “Ladders of Supremacy”, and “Window of the Waking Mind”. Overall, Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind is another great album from Coheed and Cambria. Having a new, yet familiar sound, the album reprises Sanchez's signature vocals and lyricism, with the heaviness of The Color Before the Sun. Long-time fans will probably enjoy the album, as the album is not that different from their more recent studio albums.
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